China-aided Africa CDC Headquarters main building marks structural completion

Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-27 21:39:17|Editor: huaxia

Photo taken on Nov. 26, 2021 shows the construction site of the Headquarters Building Phase I Project of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. (Xinhua/Wang Ping)

The main building of the China-aided future headquarters for the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a landmark project that manifests blossoming China-Africa ties, has marked structural completion.

ADDIS ABABA, Nov. 27 (Xinhua) -- The African Union (AU) Commission on Friday marked structural completion of the main building of the China-aided future headquarters of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Senior officials from the AU Commission and the Africa CDC, representatives of African countries, diplomats from the Chinese mission to the AU and other dignitaries were present at the topping-out ceremony of Africa CDC Headquarters Building Phase I Project in the southern suburb of Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa.

Amira Elfadil, AU Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, dubbed the landmark project the latest manifestation of the ever-blossoming and long-standing China-Africa ties.

"While celebrating our success in reaching 45 percent of the total project completion within an impressive record of 348 days, the African Union would like to express its sincere appreciation to the government of the People's Republic of China for funding of the whole project," the AU Commissioner said. "Special thanks to the Chinese teams and local workers who devoted days and nights to crafting this magnificent structure."

The project, featuring modern offices, high-end laboratories and accessories, is being constructed on nine hectares of land with a total building area of 23,570 square meters and is expected to be completed within 25 months.

Photo taken on Nov. 26, 2021 shows the construction site of the Headquarters Building Phase I Project of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. (Xinhua/Wang Ping)

Liu Yuxi, head of the Chinese Mission to the AU, said the close coordination between Chinese and the AU Commission teams enabled the project to enter into the fast lane of basic construction with high standards.

"The smooth progress of the project perfectly illustrates the friendly and cooperative spirit of brotherhood between China and Africa and will make great contributions to strengthening pandemic prevention and control in Africa," Liu said.

Liu stressed that China will proceed to try its utmost to assist African countries in responding to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and restoring economic and social development.

"China and Africa are close friends, reliable partners and good brothers. As we speak, the COVID-19 pandemic is still wreaking havoc across the globe. However, it cannot prevent China-Africa cooperation from growing in depth and substance," he added.

The multi-building facility, which is under construction by the Chinese construction giant -- China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) -- is an important part of the health care initiative adopted at the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Beijing Summit held in 2018, representing an important step toward a stronger China-Africa community with a shared future.

Benjamin Djoudalbaye, head of Policy and Health Diplomacy at the Africa CDC, told Xinhua that the project will be another landmark embodying the China-Africa partnership.

Africa, which has long been suffering from various infectious diseases, particularly the recurrent Ebola outbreaks and the raging COVID-19 pandemic, is in urgent need of improving its disease control system, in which the timely completion of the future Africa CDC project is expected to inject much-needed momentum.

According to Djoudalbaye, on completion, the facility will enable the AU's specialized healthcare agency to better play its role of coordination, mobilization and emergency management in public health, eventually helping realize Africa's new public health order, with better healthcare delivery across the continent.

KEY WORDS: Ethiopia,Africa CDC Headquarters Construction,Topping Out
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